Ilham Alam is spread across two special exhibition galleries and a separating courtyard. The first gallery, Body in Nature, explores the Malay Conceptualizations of the human body as well as human relationships to the natural environment. The second gallery, Fading into the Forest: The Art and Practise of Traditional Malay Medicine delves into the life’s of traditional healers and looks closely at the Jamu Medicines trade that remains an important part of the community today.
Inspired by geometric Islamic motifs and orderly Malay chequered patterns such as the Kain Pelekat, the gallery layout evokes a sense of structured beauty. The exhibition layout enhances the modern and fresh setting of the gallery, using simple and elegant freestanding structures that mimic the gallery’s horizontal and vertical dark wood beams. Pedestal showcases are placed with generous room for dynamic and emotive lighting which suggests the mythical folk origins of traditional medicine. The overall design goal is to foster community spirit and allow families and groups to gather around the exhibits to discuss the merits and values of traditional approaches to health and healing.
Gallery two uses the three case and graphic panel structures describing the traditional trades of Mak Bidan, Tok Mudin and Tukang Urut as the anchoring design element of the gallery. These simple rectangular forms with warm dark wood finishes and light inclusion of decorative motifs are intended to evoke Malay culture and compliment the spacious gallery. The stylised depiction of the medicine shop activity area is intended to set the scene and immerse visitors into a shop where traditional tools of the trade, colourful posters and jars of herbs are displayed and explained.
The courtyard is transformed into an uncomplicated maze with a meandering but purposeful path. Planter boxes full of herbs and plants are finished in reclaimed timber and draw on inspiration from structures within the two galleries. A unifying central element ties the layout together utilizing both low horizontal planters and vertical graphic elements; drawing visitors inward and around the courtyard.
